INSIDE THE SURGE
Some residents and community activists in Englewood worry about the Chicago Police Department’s increased presence in the area as part of an initiative targeting two police districts that accounted for about 25 percent of the city’s homicides last year. “The community doesn’t trust the police and the police don’t trust the community,” said Asiaha Butler, president of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood. http://bit.ly/xUMLhF
OFF THE RAILS
Local and state transportation officials criticized a “financially perilous” bill advancing through the U.S. House that would prohibit mass-transit projects from receiving gas tax revenue. The measure could cost the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace as much as $450 million a year, while the Illinois Department of Transportation said it could lose almost $900 million over the next few years. http://bit.ly/wsCmjz
QUINN’S ‘KILLER’ PLAN
Gov. Pat Quinn’s call to shift teacher pension funding from the state to local school districts has some school administrators worried about how they will cover the cost. “There is no magic pool of dollars waiting for us to swim in,” said Tony Sanders, the chief of staff for Elgin’s school district. http://bit.ly/x74Btr
- The Rochester school superintendent said “massive layoffs” would take place if his district has to begin paying teacher pension costs. http://bit.ly/yz4Kiu
GREEN LIGHT?
Today is the deadline for Quinn to make his decision on a bill backed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel that would allow the city to install speed-enforcement cameras covering much of Chicago. http://bit.ly/zM0RMu
- Citing anonymous sources, the Sun-Times’ Michael Sneed reported Quinn would sign a bill. http://bit.ly/z5bxB8
EASY OUT
The CNC’s James Warren writes that Quinn, in his State of the State speech last week, “avoided hard truths, exhibiting little passion for the painful process of cutting expenses. It seems as if he will continue to slice here and there and pile up more debt.”http://bit.ly/yqjQil
Roundup …
Suit, Countersuit: City pension funds and a politically connected money manager are in a legal battle.http://bit.ly/Al0b0c
Welcome Wagon?: Emanuel would not comment directly on racism allegations against the German company whose investment in Chicago he just had hailed. http://bit.ly/wDhWRD
Order in the Court: Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle are backing different candidates for Illinois Supreme Court justice. http://bit.ly/zmaG5b
Breaking a Logjam: The Emanuel administration said it is dealing more swiftly tree-trimming requests.http://cbsloc.al/wmYuSz
Gas Windfall: Large companies could save big bucks from Quinn’s proposed elimination of the state’s natural gas utility tax.http://bit.ly/zrEyXa
Family Guy: Quinn urged low-income families to sign up for a tax break. http://bit.ly/zWboHX
Acquired Taste: Quinn took the cinnamon challenge. http://bit.ly/zUCUct
Driver’s Seat: State Sen. Susan Garret (D-Lake Forest) proposed a bill overhauling driver’s education programs.http://trib.in/AhgYpE
Lost and Found: A lawsuit was filed against the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office for allegedly losing a body.http://bit.ly/xLTbwh
Help from Co-workers: Dick Durbin said he is helping advance Mark Kirk’s Senate bills. http://bit.ly/yV6kUg